Great Books and the Great Bookhttps://library.yctorah.org
The Torah Learning Library of Yeshivat Chovevei TorahThu, 04 Jun 2020 16:36:24 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.1Great Books and the Great BookcleanepisodicGreat Books and the Great Bookhollandermaximillian@gmail.comhollandermaximillian@gmail.com (Great Books and the Great Book)The Torah Learning Library of Yeshivat Chovevei TorahGreat Books and the Great Bookhttps://library.yctorah.org/files/powerpress/Untitled_design-10.pnghttps://library.yctorah.org
Episode 15: Education; Rav Moshe’s Philosophy of Educationhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-15-education-rav-moshes-philosophy-of-education/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 14:41:11 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-15-education-rav-moshes-philosophy-of-education/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-15-education-rav-moshes-philosophy-of-education/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-15-education-rav-moshes-philosophy-of-education/feed/0Rabbi Linzer studies a long letter that Rav Moshe wrote in teshuvah form that expresses his philosophy of education – especially when confronting the challenges of educating Jewishly in America.…

Rabbi Linzer studies a long letter that Rav Moshe wrote in teshuvah form that expresses his philosophy of education – especially when confronting the challenges of educating Jewishly in America.

]]>Rabbi Linzer studies a long letter that Rav Moshe…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 14: Denominations; Interacting with Reform and Conservative Institutionshttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-14-denominations-interacting-with-reform-and-conservative-institutions/
Fri, 14 Dec 2018 10:00:25 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-14-denominations-interacting-with-reform-and-conservative-institutions/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-14-denominations-interacting-with-reform-and-conservative-institutions/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-14-denominations-interacting-with-reform-and-conservative-institutions/feed/0Rabbi Linzer looks at teshuvot about interacting with Conservative and Reform institutions. Can you take a job teaching at a Conservative school? What about renting space for a minyan in a non-Orthodox shul? Lastly, can I get married in a non-Orthodox shul?…

Rabbi Linzer looks at teshuvot about interacting with Conservative and Reform institutions. Can you take a job teaching at a Conservative school? What about renting space for a minyan in a non-Orthodox shul? Lastly, can I get married in a non-Orthodox shul?

]]>Rabbi Linzer looks at teshuvot about interacting …Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 13: Denominations; Conversions and Marriages of Conservative and Reformhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-13-denominations-conversions-and-marriages-of-conservative-and-reform/
Wed, 12 Dec 2018 19:38:58 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-13-denominations-conversions-and-marriages-of-conservative-and-reform/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-13-denominations-conversions-and-marriages-of-conservative-and-reform/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-13-denominations-conversions-and-marriages-of-conservative-and-reform/feed/0Rabbi Linzer tackles a host of teshuvot about Conservative and Reform marriages and conversions. Rav Moshe often invalidated these to solve agunah problems, but on what basis?…

Rabbi Linzer tackles a host of teshuvot about Conservative and Reform marriages and conversions. Rav Moshe often invalidated these to solve agunah problems, but on what basis?

]]>Rabbi Linzer tackles a host of teshuvot about Con…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 12: Denominations; Can you give kibbudim to Conservative and Reform Rabbis?https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-12-denominations-can-you-give-kibbudim-to-conservative-and-reform-rabbis/
Tue, 11 Dec 2018 16:04:45 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-12-denominations-can-you-give-kibbudim-to-conservative-and-reform-rabbis/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-12-denominations-can-you-give-kibbudim-to-conservative-and-reform-rabbis/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-12-denominations-can-you-give-kibbudim-to-conservative-and-reform-rabbis/feed/0Rabbi Linzer looks at Rav Moshe’s harshest teshuvot about Conservative and Reform Rabbis, where Rav Moshe suggests that brachot from these rabbis are not considered brachot, and that it is inappropriate to give them any kibbudim.…

Rabbi Linzer looks at Rav Moshe’s harshest teshuvot about Conservative and Reform Rabbis, where Rav Moshe suggests that brachot from these rabbis are not considered brachot, and that it is inappropriate to give them any kibbudim.

]]>Rabbi Linzer looks at Rav Moshe's harshest teshuv…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 11: Conversion; Can I Convert Without Total Observance?https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-11-conversion-can-i-convert-without-total-observance/
Sun, 09 Dec 2018 18:33:26 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-11-conversion-can-i-convert-without-total-observance/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-11-conversion-can-i-convert-without-total-observance/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-11-conversion-can-i-convert-without-total-observance/feed/0Rabbi Linzer unpacks two teshuvot about conversions that may not be totally kosher.…

Rabbi Linzer unpacks two teshuvot about conversions that may not be totally kosher.

]]>Rabbi Linzer unpacks two teshuvot about conversio…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 10: A Chanukkah Special on lighting for anotherhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-10-a-chanukkah-special-on-lighting-for-another/
Thu, 06 Dec 2018 00:57:16 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-10-a-chanukkah-special-on-lighting-for-another/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-10-a-chanukkah-special-on-lighting-for-another/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-10-a-chanukkah-special-on-lighting-for-another/feed/0Rabbi Linzer takes us through a long, halakhic teshuvah about which brachot to make if you are lighting on behalf of someone else. Another key question addressed – what about women lighting for men, how does their obligation compare?…

Rabbi Linzer takes us through a long, halakhic teshuvah about which brachot to make if you are lighting on behalf of someone else. Another key question addressed – what about women lighting for men, how does their obligation compare?

]]>Rabbi Linzer takes us through a long, halakhic te…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 9: Conversion; Conversion of a Conservative Rabbihttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-9-conversion-conversion-of-a-conservative-rabbi/
Tue, 04 Dec 2018 17:19:51 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-9-conversion-conversion-of-a-conservative-rabbi/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-9-conversion-conversion-of-a-conservative-rabbi/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/12/episode-9-conversion-conversion-of-a-conservative-rabbi/feed/0This week we’re finishing C is for Conversions with two more episodes and starting D for Denominations.…

This week we’re finishing C is for Conversions with two more episodes and starting D for Denominations.

]]>Is Thanksgiving kosher? A special episode of Iggr…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 7: Conversion; Can a Ger be Rosh Yeshiva?https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-7-conversion-can-a-ger-be-rosh-yeshiva/
Mon, 19 Nov 2018 12:44:53 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-7-conversion-can-a-ger-be-rosh-yeshiva/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-7-conversion-can-a-ger-be-rosh-yeshiva/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-7-conversion-can-a-ger-be-rosh-yeshiva/feed/0Rabbi Linzer looks at a teshuvah about whether a ger (convert) can be a rosh yeshiva or mashgiach, despite the issue of serarah, or authority, for a ger.…

Rabbi Linzer looks at a teshuvah about whether a ger (convert) can be a rosh yeshiva or mashgiach, despite the issue of serarah, or authority, for a ger.

]]>Rabbi Linzer looks at a teshuvah about whether a …Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 6: Birth Control; A Woman’s Choicehttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-6-birth-control-a-womans-choice/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 05:44:54 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-6-birth-control-a-womans-choice/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-6-birth-control-a-womans-choice/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-6-birth-control-a-womans-choice/feed/0Rabbi Linzer looks at two teshuvot in which a woman insists upon using birth control to prevent pregnancy. What does halakha say about the man’s responsibility to procreate in this situation?…

Rabbi Linzer looks at two teshuvot in which a woman insists upon using birth control to prevent pregnancy. What does halakha say about the man’s responsibility to procreate in this situation?

]]>Rabbi Linzer looks at two teshuvot in which a wom…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 5: Birth Control; the Condomhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-5-birth-control-the-condom/
Wed, 14 Nov 2018 06:22:03 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-5-birth-control-the-condom/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-5-birth-control-the-condom/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-5-birth-control-the-condom/feed/0Rabbi Linzer debunks a common misconception – that the condom is completely taboo in halakha. Rav Moshe’s view is more nuanced, though he absolutely rejects more lenient opinions.…

Rabbi Linzer debunks a common misconception – that the condom is completely taboo in halakha. Rav Moshe’s view is more nuanced, though he absolutely rejects more lenient opinions.

]]>Rabbi Linzer debunks a common misconception - tha…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 4: Birth Control; the IUDhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-4-birth-control-the-iud/
Mon, 12 Nov 2018 07:15:50 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-4-birth-control-the-iud/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-4-birth-control-the-iud/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-4-birth-control-the-iud/feed/0Some sensitive topics may be discussed in this episode. B is for Birth Control. Rav Moshe lived at a time of innovation in methods of birth control. In this episode, Rabbi Dov Linzer looks at a teshuvah about the IUD, a newly available device in Rav Moshe’s time.…

Some sensitive topics may be discussed in this episode. B is for Birth Control. Rav Moshe lived at a time of innovation in methods of birth control. In this episode, Rabbi Dov Linzer looks at a teshuvah about the IUD, a newly available device in Rav Moshe’s time.

]]>Some sensitive topics may be discussed in this ep…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanBONUS: Intro Episode; B is for Birth Controlhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/bonus-intro-episode-b-is-for-birth-control/
Mon, 12 Nov 2018 05:33:50 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/bonus-intro-episode-b-is-for-birth-control/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/bonus-intro-episode-b-is-for-birth-control/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/bonus-intro-episode-b-is-for-birth-control/feed/0Sensitive topics may be discussed in this podcast. It’s week two and B is for Birth Control. Because the topic is so vast, and Rav Moshe wrote so many teshuvot about it, we’re starting off the week with a bonus episode, a rapid fire introduction to birth control in Rav Moshe’s responsa, brought to you, of course, by Rabbi Dov Linzer.…

Sensitive topics may be discussed in this podcast. It’s week two and B is for Birth Control. Because the topic is so vast, and Rav Moshe wrote so many teshuvot about it, we’re starting off the week with a bonus episode, a rapid fire introduction to birth control in Rav Moshe’s responsa, brought to you, of course, by Rabbi Dov Linzer.

]]>Sensitive topics may be discussed in this podcast…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 3: America; The Death Penaltyhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-3-america-the-death-penalty/
Fri, 09 Nov 2018 13:11:17 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-3-america-the-death-penalty/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-3-america-the-death-penalty/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-3-america-the-death-penalty/feed/0Rav Moshe receives a letter from a high official, asking for the Jewish perspective on the death penalty. To read the teshuvah while you listen, visit our Torah library at library.yctorah.org.…

Rav Moshe receives a letter from a high official, asking for the Jewish perspective on the death penalty. To read the teshuvah while you listen, visit our Torah library at library.yctorah.org.

]]>Rav Moshe receives a letter from a high official,…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 2: America; Tenants’ Rightshttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-2-america-tenants-rights/
Wed, 07 Nov 2018 17:06:46 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-2-america-tenants-rights/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-2-america-tenants-rights/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-2-america-tenants-rights/feed/0Rabbi Dov Linzer looks at a teshuva about tenant’s rights when Halakha and secular law are in conflict.…

Rabbi Dov Linzer looks at a teshuva about tenant’s rights when Halakha and secular law are in conflict.

]]>Rabbi Dov Linzer looks at a teshuva about tenant'…Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanEpisode 1: America; Educational Fraudhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-1-america-educational-fraud/
Mon, 05 Nov 2018 14:36:51 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-1-america-educational-fraud/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-1-america-educational-fraud/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/episode-1-america-educational-fraud/feed/0A is for America. Introducing week one of Iggros Moshe A to Z with Rabbi Dov Linzer. The brand new Iggros Moshe podcast from YCT will cover three teshuvot a week from Iggros Moshe, addressing a new theme each week – from A to Z.…

A is for America. Introducing week one of Iggros Moshe A to Z with Rabbi Dov Linzer. The brand new Iggros Moshe podcast from YCT will cover three teshuvot a week from Iggros Moshe, addressing a new theme each week – from A to Z. This week, because of election day, the theme is three teshuvot about Rav Moshe’s view of America.

]]>A is for America. Introducing week one of Iggros …Yeshivat Chovevei TorahcleanWhy Iggros Moshe A to Z?https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/why-iggros-moshe-a-to-z/
Sun, 04 Nov 2018 23:31:01 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/why-iggros-moshe-a-to-z/https://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/why-iggros-moshe-a-to-z/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2018/11/why-iggros-moshe-a-to-z/feed/0Rabbi Linzer explains why Rav Moshe is the posek he wanted to dedicate a podcast to, and why his teshuvot and style are particularly relevant to the Modern Orthodox community.…

Rabbi Linzer explains why Rav Moshe is the posek he wanted to dedicate a podcast to, and why his teshuvot and style are particularly relevant to the Modern Orthodox community.

]]>Rabbi Linzer explains why Rav Moshe is the posek …Yeshivat Chovevei Torahclean52On the Nature of Birkat HaTorahhttps://library.yctorah.org/2017/05/shavuot-shiur/
Fri, 26 May 2017 14:28:03 +0000https://library.yctorah.org/?p=10251https://library.yctorah.org/2017/05/shavuot-shiur/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2017/05/shavuot-shiur/feed/0כי שם ה’ אקרא הבו גודל לא-לוהינו
For the name of the Lord I proclaim; Give glory to our God (Devarim 32:3)
This verse, from Parashat Haazinu which we will be reading this Shabbat, Shabbat Shuva, is the basis for our daily recitation of Birkat HaTorah.…

כי שם ה’ אקרא הבו גודל לא-לוהינו

For the name of the Lord I proclaim; Give glory to our God (Devarim 32:3)

This verse, from Parashat Haazinu which we will be reading this Shabbat, Shabbat Shuva, is the basis for our daily recitation of Birkat HaTorah. Hear Rabbi Linzer’s shiur on the nature of this brakha and what it says about our relationship to Talmud Torah.

Regarding Birkat HaTorah, I have a doubt [how to rule]. For in siman 47:12, Shulkhan Arukh writes that even if one learns at night he does not have to make a brakha as long as he has not slept. This implies that if he were up all night he would not make a blessing on the following morning… But this is difficult, for we rule that sleeping during the day, even a solid sleep, does not constitute and interruption [to require another Birkat HaTorah]… For according to Rabbeinu Tam one does not have to make blessing before the morning start for the blessing of the previous day exempts him until daybreak of the next day. Therefore, for us as well, since it is our practice to make Birkat HaTorah every day, when one made the blessing the day before his intent was only to exempt that day and the following night, and therefore he has to recite birkat haTorah when day breaks. This seems to be the proper halakhic position. However, one who wants to avoid any doubt should hear Birkat HaTorah from someone else and have intent to fulfil his obligation.

Thus, according to our practice that we do not make Birkat HaTorah when a person sleeps during the day, this demonstrates that when a person recites the blessing [of the Torah] in the morning it is because the Sages established this blessing every day, just like the birkot haShahar, the morning blessings.

If a person was up all night, some say he should not recite the blessing [of the Torah] in the morning, and some say he is required to make the blessing… But if he took a solid nap in his bed during the day and the following night he was up all night, the gaon Rabbi Akiva Eger rules that in this case, according to all opinions he must recite in the morning the Birkot HaTorah…

[3] One who writes words of Torah, even if he does not read them out loud, must recite the blessings.
[4] One who only thinks of Torah does not have to recite the blessings [of the Torah]. Rema: Similarly, one can issue halakhic rulings [if he did not recite the blessings], without giving his reasoning for them.
[5] The text of Birkat HaTorah: “Who has sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded us on the words of Torah,” and “Let be pleasant…” and “You have chosen us…”.
[9] Some say that if one interrupted between Birkat HaTorah and his learning, this is not a problem, but the proper practice is to not interrupt between them. And the practice is to say the birkat Kohanin immediately after Birkat HaTorah.
[10] If one interrupts his learning and goes about his daily business, since it is his intent to go back and learn, this does not constitute an interruption. The same is true regarding sleep and a bathhouse and an outhouse, that they do not constitute an interruption.
[11] A solid nap in the day, on one’s bed, is an interruption [and one must make Birkat HaTorah again]. And some say it is not an interruption and this is the practice.
[12] Even if one learns at night, the night follows the previous day, and one does not have to recite the blessings again as long as he has not slept.
[14] Women recite Birkat HaTorah.

[4] One who thinks etc. – for we rule that thought does not constitute speech. But this contradicts what he wrote in section 3, “One who writes…” etc., and Taz raised this question as well… But all of this requires investigation, for here the person is making the blessing on the mitzvah. Is there, then, perhaps no mitzvah when one thinks about Torah? Behold the verse states, “And you shall think (vi’higita) in it [day and night],” i.e., in one’s heart (without verbalization), as the verse states, “the thoughts (hegyon) of my heart.” Certainly this is true when it comes to issuing halakhic rulings, etc. And behold for reading verses one has to make the blessing, and similarly before reading the Torah publicly.
[5] “On the words of Torah” – this is the text of Rif and Rambam, and so writes the students of Rabbeinu Yonah that this is the text that is found in the more accurate textual witnesses. But our text is “To toil in the words of Torah,” and this is also how Rosh and Tur write abased on other textual witnesses.
[8] … But between the blessings and the learning there is not even a hypothetical possibility according to Rosh that it would be permissible to interrupt, but rather one must recite the blessings again. And [after a verbal interruption] it does not suffice that one has not put his mind to other things, just like when it comes to making Hamotzi… and this is the way it is with all blessings over mitzvot or over food, For only when a person is already in the middle of performing a mitzvah or of eating a meal, verbal interruption does not lose the blessing (i.e.,, require a new blessing) provided that one has not put his mind to other things. This is not the case when one interrupts between a mitzvah blessing and the performance of the mitzvah, since the blessing has nothing upon which to rest as the poskim have written…
[10]” The same is true for sleep and a bathhouse, etc.” Because a person does not put his mind to other things – Hagahahot Maimoniyot in the name of Maharam [of Rothenburg], And Agur writes that [it is not an interruption] because even when a person is in such places he must be careful to follow the laws of the Torah, and he must therefore be thinking of these laws even in such places. Both of these reasons require further investigation. As to the first reason – how is this any different from tfillin, where an outhouse constitutes an interruption… Similarly, the explanation o f Agur is not correct… and acting [according to halakha] is not learning [Torah]. Now Agur and Shulkhan Arukh in section 4 writes that one who thinks about Torah does not have to make the blessings – and this is consistent with his position here, for otherwise one would have to make Torah blessings before he went to the bathroom in the morning [since a person is observing Torah laws even there]. And so it would be before every mitzvah and every action [Torah blessings would need to be made first]. But we already wrote there that this is not correct [and one must make a blessing before thinking n Torah]. And when one is not intending to learn [but just observing halakha], a blessing is not required.
[11]” Some say etc.” – Beit Yosef already wrote that this position is astounding [i.e., does not seem to make sense].
[14] “Women etc.” – see Magen Avraham in the name of Agur. Their words however should be rejected from a number of perspectives. And behold the verse screams out, “You shall teach you sons” – and not your daughters. How then can a woman say “and You have commanded us… and given us”? Rather, the true explanation is based on Tosafot and the other poskim that women recite blessings on all time-bound mitzvot… And although we rule that [whoever teaches his daughter Torah it is] as if he teaches her nonsense,” this only relates to the Oral Torah, see YD 246:6

Behold, the question has already been raised regarding Shulkhan Arukh’s ruling that women recite Birakt HaTorah – but [how can this be seeing that] they are exempt from learning Torah? And this is even more difficult according to Rambam’s position, who rules in Laws of Tzitzit chapter 3 that when it comes to mitzvot that women are exempt from, they are not permitted to recite the mitzvah blessing…
I heard from my sainted father, the Gaon and righteous one, z”l, who said that regarding Birkat HaTorah it is not a blessing over the mitzvot of learning Torah. Rather, it is a separate rule, that the Torah itself requires a blessing… Therefore, this has nothing to do with the mitzvah at all, rather that the Torah itself requires a blessing. And women are only exempt from the mitzvah of learning Torah, but they are not excluded from the very “object” of Torah learning, and their learning is in the category of talmud Torah, and it is appropriate that they recite a blessing over their Torah learning, since this is not about the fulfilment of the mitzvah.

I saw that your honored one (Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank) is of the opinion, that it is obvious that according to our Gemara, if a person finds himself in a situation where it is impossible for him to make the blessing, and there is no way at all that he can recite Birkat HaTorah, it is then also forbidden for him to learn Torah. For just as one cannot benefit from this world without a blessing, so it is forbidden to learn Torah without a blessing, and his learning would not be considered a mitzvah under such circumstances, but a sin. Now this is a highly innovative [and unprecedented] position, for we have never found that the Sages said that it is forbidden to do a mitzvah without making the blessing first, as they said in the case of blessings over food [that one could not eat without a blessing]. Now why should a person idle himself and prevent his own learning, which is more important than all the mitzvot in the Torah, because he does not know how to make the blessing.

Rav Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel: If one rose early to study [the Torah] before he had recited the Shema, he must say a blessing [over the study]. But if he had already recited the Shema, he need not say a blessing, because he has already become exempt by saying “With abounding love.”
R. Huna said: For the reading of Scripture it is necessary to say a blessing, but for the study of the Midrash no blessing is required. R. Eleazar, however, says that for both Scripture and Midrash a blessing is required, but not for the Mishnah . R. Yochanan says that for the Mishnah also a blessing is required, [but not for the Talmud]. Rava said: For the Talmud also it is necessary to say a blessing…
What blessing is said [before the study of the Torah]? — Rav Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel: “[Blessed art Thou . . . ] who has sanctified us by Thy commandments, and commanded us to study the Torah.” R. Yochanan used to conclude as follows: “Make pleasant, therefore, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, the words of Thy Torah in our mouth and in the mouth of Thy people the house of Israel, so that we with our offspring and the offspring of Thy people the house of Israel may all know Thy name and study Thy Torah. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who teaches Torah to Thy people Israel.” R. Hamnuna said: “[Blessed art Thou . . . ] who hast chosen us from all the nations and given us Thy Torah. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who gives the Torah.” R. Hamnuna said: This is the finest of the blessings. Therefore let us say all of them.

Even for Gemara one must recite the blessing – for it is the essence of Torah, for halakhic instruction derives from there. “Gemara” is explaining the reasons of the Mishna, and reconciling mishnas which contradict one another, and filling in missing texts.

“Rabbi Yochanan says: for Mishnah one must make a blessing “ – because Mishna also explains the verses and it is from there that we learn the reasons of the mitzvot, but when it comes to Talmud, which is the commentary on the Mishna, one does not [make a blessing], for one does not have to make a blessing on a commentary. And Rabbi Eliezer says that even for Talmud one must make a blessing, for the Talmud also explains the essence of the verses. And the conclusion is that even for Midrash one must make a vlessing, for Midrash derives [laws] from the verses, through kal va’homer and gezeira shavah, and from the hermeneutical principles used for interpreting the Torah.

]]>כי שם ה’ אקרא הבו גודל לא-לוהינו For the name of the Lord I proclaim; Give glory to our God (Devarim 32:3) This verse, from Parashat Haazinu which we will be reading this Shabbat, Shabbat Shuva, is the basis for our daily recitation of Birkat HaTorah.…
For the name of the Lord I proclaim; Give glory to our God (Devarim 32:3)

This verse, from Parashat Haazinu which we will be reading this Shabbat, Shabbat Shuva, is the basis for our daily recitation of Birkat HaTorah.…]]>Great Books and the Great Book55:28Torah Shiurim in Memory of Rav Aharon Lichtensteinhttps://library.yctorah.org/2015/04/torah-shiurim-in-memory-of-rav-aharon-lichtenstein/
Tue, 21 Apr 2015 20:26:45 +0000http://library.yctorahnew.org/?p=2892https://library.yctorah.org/2015/04/torah-shiurim-in-memory-of-rav-aharon-lichtenstein/#respondhttps://library.yctorah.org/2015/04/torah-shiurim-in-memory-of-rav-aharon-lichtenstein/feed/0There is no more fitting way to commemorate the memory of HaGaon Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt”l, through the learning of Torah. In honor of Rav Lichtenstein’s 80th birthday, we presented a series of shiurim on the Thought of Rav Lichtenstein as part of our annual Yemei Iyun in Tanakh and Jewish Thought.…

There is no more fitting way to commemorate the memory of HaGaon Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt”l, through the learning of Torah. In honor of Rav Lichtenstein’s 80th birthday, we presented a series of shiurim on the Thought of Rav Lichtenstein as part of our annual Yemei Iyun in Tanakh and Jewish Thought. We now make these shiruim available to the general public. Please follow the links below for the audio and video recordings.

May we all continue to learn and grow from his Torah. Ye’hi zikhro Barukh.

]]>There is no more fitting way to commemorate the memory of HaGaon Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt”l, through the learning of Torah. In honor of Rav Lichtenstein’s 80th birthday, we presented a series of shiurim on the Thought of Rav Lichtenstein as part of ...Great Books and the Great Bookclean